As a counterexample I think Microsoft conferences represent well diversity (from what I saw watching MIX and Build videos on channel9).
This is probably the result of their HR strategy (speakers are mostly Microsofties).
I think a turning point will be a combination of great Windows 8 apps and nice hardware.
Concerning the hardware I am surprised to see very attractive stuffs here in Japan. The Fujitsu Arrows tab here is an example:
http://www.fmworld.net/arrows/tab_wifi/qh/
It is featuring an Atom CPU so it's running the full Windows 8 (not the RT version) so it means you can really use whatever Windows software you've been using before on this machine.
I believe the idea of having a single device replacing the desktop and the tablet is still attractive to many users. It will take some time for PC-makers to propose compelling offers but 2013 may be that time
When talking about VS and libraries/APIs you really need to be more specific.
VS lets you work with very different technologies from native C++ to .NET languages, including web stacks.
The user experience may vary but if we are talking about the .NET world I think it is a very strong package.
The only equivalent I can think of would be the Eclipse/Java combo.
I'm a really big fan of the .NET environment but you have to admit there is something wrong with the end-user products in recent years.
Looking at the modest success of the Surface RT, one might think it will end-up like WP7. You cannot recommend to buy a product like this for Christmass
As a developer working with Microsoft products I have a very mixed feeling about what the company is doing right now.
The tools and products for developers and professionals are amazing. Visual Studio might be the most visible example but there are really tons of great tools and libraries (and many are actually open sourced).
The problem is that I cannot see any of this greatness translated into end-users killer-apps. LOB apps surely benefit from it and other ecosystems (OSX, iOS or Android) will not catch-up for a long time.
For me there are two Microsoft: one for the developers and headed by Scott Guthrie and the other for consumers. This last one does not have a clear vision and is just trying to catch up with Google and Apple.